APPLIANCE Engineer®
page 29
The Open Door
Expanding Appliance Possibilities
Bill Rich, vice president of Engineering and Quality, Lennox Hearth Products
Since their inception nearly 50 years ago, electric fireplaces have relied mainly on low-tech devices such as crinkled foil, silk ribbons, and fans to mimic a flickering flame effect. However, a new development in the entertainment industry—the Digital Video Disk (DVD) player—has greatly improved the realism of electric fireplace design.
page 30
2004 IATC Best Paper Winner
Detection of Abnormal Operating Conditions in Electric Clothes Dryers
by Randy Butturini, PE, electrical engineer, Arthur Lee, electrical engineer, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Bethesda, MD, U.S.
Advances in sensor technology have created opportunities to address many hazards that products can present to consumers, and this paper reports the results of experiments performed on an electric clothes dryer. The test clothes dryer was instrumented with a number of sensors and operated under normal and abnormal operation conditions. The recorded sensor data were analyzed to determine if undesirable conditions that could lead to impending hazardous conditions could be detected before developing into a consumer hazard.
page 38
Motor Technology
Brushless Motor System
The Etek Brushless Motor System from Briggs & Stratton Commercial Power (Chicago, IL, U.S.) is said to offer increased performance, durability, and reduced maintenance when compared to brush-type motors used in commercial floor care equipment.
page 40
Electronics Report
Pressure - Sensitive Adhesives
The new MACBond(R) IB Series from MACtac(R) Technical Products’ (Stow, OH, U.S.) is said to offer flexible adhesive systems for a wide variety of demanding bonding or laminating applications, particularly cellular telephones.
page 43
Technology Report
Connection Device for Fluid and Air Lines
A new quick-disconnect twin tube coupling reportedly allows two tubing connections to be made at one time in a compact device, while its two separate lines protect against mixing of fluids or crossing of lines.
page 50
60th Anniversary
60 Years Of Appliance Technology
by Tim Somheil, Senior Editor
The appliance industry has innovated ceaselessly since the first issue of this magazine was published by Dana Chase Publications in January 1944. Here, on the occasion of our 60th anniversary year, we would like to present an abridged look at just a few of the technology developments that brought the industry to where it is now.
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Engineering - Rapid Prototyping
Curing Developmental Headaches
by Jill Russell, Assistant Editor
Egyptian appliance maker Olympic Group saved costs and dramatically decreased its development timeframe by implementing rapid prototyping and 3D prints into the initial design process. |
